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Neale Jones, the Communications Director at the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) is proving to be a man who wants to shoot the messenger when he doesn't like the message.

Jones didn't like what Tom Peters of the World Socialist Web Site was writing about the EPMU's role in the Pike River disaster and accused him of supplying 'misinformation'. There was no attempt to address the substantive issues raised by Peters.

Peters responded to Jones here. He commented that Jones was simply making 'a crude attempt to divert attention from the role of his union.'

Tweets Jones: 'Even the quotes in this piece appear to be dodgy. No links, no context & one doesn't even seem to exist.'

Really? He hasn't provided any details to back his claims but Jones, true to form, is simply trying to smear myself and the article. What an odious little man. He provides more evidence that rank and file members need to regain control over their unions.

Jones was referred to the article by John Drinnan (@Zagzigger) the NZ Herald's media commentator.

Incidentally, this article is the hot favourite to be the most viewed post on this blog this year.

The International Socialist Organisation has an interesting article on the Pike River disaster here,

Also, you can also check out this article on the Pike River disaster on the Redline blog.

You can listen to Andrew Little talking here, on November 22, 2010: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2435109/miners'-union-demands-answers

He says: "Every mine on the West Coast takes great care when it goes into production and I don't think Pike River is any different to that. They've had a good health and safety committee that's been very active. So, there's been nothing before now that's alerted us to any greater risk of this sort of incident happening than at any other time."

This might as well be the company chairman talking. No mention of the miners' walk-out, or any other warnings about unsafe conditions in the mine.